Dance as part of a University Education

Over a year ago

by A Goddu

Universities nationwide--especially the Ivy Leagues--often categorize dance as an extracurricular activity only, and not as an intellectually founded method of knowing and doing. Why is studio art often an accepted curricular pursuit, but not dance? Why music? And acting? Dance history and theory are often popular academic replacements for technical or composition classes in dance. But having these courses only--and not supporting classes that put into practice important ideas about experiencing the world physically--is equivalent to taking chemistry without a chemistry lab. How can we legitimize dance theory and practice as an integral part of an intellectual education? For more information, see this recent New York Times article: "Mind and Body at Yale," by Claudia LaRocco. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/23/arts/dance/23laro.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

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